Western officials are convinced that Russia is likely to launch a new big offensive against Ukraine early next year.. And this new attack could include an attempt to seize Odessa, a strategically important port that now remains blocked..

Foreign Policy writes about this, adding that Moscow's intentions are to seize the entire southwestern coast of Ukraine, cutting off our country from access to the sea.. Odessa, known as the " If the Russian army captures this port, it will undermine the defense efforts and give Moscow more control over the global food supply..

“There is speculation that Ukrainians could face another very serious Russian offensive next year.. And we need to do everything in our power to provide them not only with equipment, but also with people, fresh and well-trained people, so that they can survive, ”an unnamed Western official told the publication..

However, the determined resistance of Ukrainian troops with Western help, as well as Moscow’s own military mistakes, mean that the success of a potential Russian offensive against Odessa is far from guaranteed.. Even if the occupation of the city becomes the main priority of the next phase of the war.

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“With Ukraine gaining time to fortify the southern region while fighting continues in the east and north, it will be difficult for Russia to move in and capture Odessa, especially if Western defense systems hold back the Russian fleet,” a former U.S. Defense and Export official told Foreign Policy..

The publication recalls that the White House recently published a warning that Russia plans to annex territories not only in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow has long created puppet " On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russian military targets in Ukraine are no longer limited to Donbass.. This was a signal that Russia could expand its offensive.

“Russia is laying the groundwork for the annexation of Ukrainian territories that it controls, which is a direct violation of Ukrainian sovereignty,” said US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby..

According to him, Moscow is considering detailed plans to annex the Kherson, Zaporozhye, Donetsk and Lugansk regions.. The publication notes that during the war, the Kremlin received important strategic gains in the Ukrainian south.. The Russian army occupied Mariupol, which was the main port on the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov, killing more than 22,000 people and almost completely destroying the city.. The port in Berdyansk was under Russian control. And Crimean ports, such as Sevastopol, have been controlled by Moscow since 2014.

However, Ukraine was able to recapture Serpents' Island at the end of June using Western Harpoon anti-ship missiles.. The Pentagon believes that this will give an advantage to the Ukrainian defenders if they have to defend Odessa.

“Of course, this is not a panacea.. But it will be much easier to defend Odessa, and in the future it will be possible to unblock sea lanes if Russia does not control Snake Island, ”said an unnamed U.S. defense official..